“The UK has some flexibility in how it to implement the new rules,” said a statement accompanying the release. “The purpose of this consultation is to seek further information on the impact of the Directive and flexibilities to inform the government’s final decisions on implementation.”

The documentation published and available to view here includes the consultation document, the draft bill, an equalities assessment and an impact assessment.

The draft proposal suggests UK regulation will stay close to directive guidelines although legislation requiring plain packaging for tobacco products from May 2016 was approved in March – a measure which goes beyond EU requirements.

All responses must be sent before 23:45 on the closing date of 3 September. A summary report of consultation responses will be published on the Department of Health website in due course, once the consultation has concluded.